Apparatus for processing sensitized sheets



March 2, 1943. lR. B. HussEY Erm. i 12,312,347

-- yAPPARATUS FOR PROCESSING s ENsITIZED SHEETS Filed May 28, 1941 v 2 Sheets-sheet 1 'March 2, 1943. R. B. HusslEY E'rAx. 2,312,647

' APPRAIUS` FOR'FROCESSING, SENSITIZED SHEETS Filed May 28, 1941 2 Sheebs-Shee'fl 2 lNvEN-TOR.

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 Fi" ECE APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SENSITIZED SHEETS Russell B. Hussey and Cecil K. Jones, Springfield, Mass.

Application May 28, 1941, Serial'No. 395,594

3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for processing sensitized sheets and is directed more particularly to means for facilitating the performing of developing operations on exposed sheets of sensitized material.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of an apparatus arranged and adapted for operating on sheets of exposed sensitized material which is characterized by one or more receptacles in the form of troughs having sheet-guiding means associated therewith movable between guiding and non-guiding positions to facilitate submerging a sheet in a suitable liquid while other means co-operate therewith for back and forth movements of the Asheet while submerged.

In processing sheets, such as developing exposed sheets, ccnsiderable difculty is experienced in connection with sheets of large size. They require submerging in trays of large size, large quantities of processing liquids, and manipulation is difcult.

According to this invention, sheets of large size are handled with facility and because of the novel arrangement the liquid receptacle or receptacles require but a relatively small amount of liquid.

The apparatus of the invention is adapted for many and Various uses but the novel features of the invention will be described in connection with the processing of sheets of exposed sensitized material requiring development and fixing and, when desired, or necessary, an intermediate stop bath.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, the form of the invention at present preferred being described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 with the upper parts omitted; and

Fig. 5 is a partial side elevational view to explain certain modications.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

Side frames 2, which are spaced apart and connected by tie members 4, may serve as a support for one or more troughs such as 6. The troughs may be formed in various ways but for purposes of illustration a frame on the supports has front, rear and side walls 3, Eil and l2 between which and, secured; thereto are members i4, I3 andA I8.'

These members are arrangedto provide transverse depressions with a sheet or sheets of some suitable material formed to provide the troughs having curving bottoms 2G and inclined drain portions 22.

There may be as many of the troughs as may be desired but in the form of the invention shown there are three. These may be for containing developing fluid, a stop bath, and a fixing bath.

The trough at the forward end of the machine or at the outer end may be for developer or fixer so that the sheet may be rst processed in either the forward or rear trough. The selection of the particular troughs for the developer and fixer, and intermediate bath when used, will be left to the operator.

Associated with each' trough is a sheet guide which in the form of the invention being dee scribed is a roll or bar 3U that is movable between a guiding position' in the trough anda non'g'uiding position thereabove.

The guides 33 are preferably rotatable in car riers 32 at opposite sides of the machine. Said carriers are slidable up and down for moving the guides in the manner referred to and this may be accomplished in various ways.

In the form of the invention shown the carriers are Xed to members 34 that are slidable in a bracket 33. Members 33 fixed on the lower ends of members 34 abut the lower side of the bracket to limit upward movements of said members 34 and some suitable means suchas compression springs 4i) around the members 34V urge the same upwardly.

The members 33 at one side of the machine are preferably tied to their corresponding members at the other side and this may be accomplished by rods 42 having opposite ends xed in some suitable manner in the members 38.

The members 34 may be operated by any de.. sired mechanical or electrical means but for purposes of disclosure are moved downwardly by a treadle 53 pivoted for up and down swinging movements at 52. The said treadle may be disposed at some convenient point intermediate the sides of the machine.

A connector 54 which may be a flexible cable has its ends secured to a part 55 of the outermost member 38 and it passes through a member 58 on the treadle so that as the treadle is depressed the members 38 and 54'will move the guide for the outermost trough downwardly.

A connector 53" extends from a part 60 on the intermediate member 38 over pulleys 62 and 64 to treadle part 58. A connector 66 extends from a part 68 on the innermost member 38 over a pulley 13 and over the pulleys 62 and (64 or pulleys similar thereto to the treadle part 58.

olwiounyA various' means may 'be' empioy'ed 'to actuate the roll carriers against the action of the springs.

One or more uprights 16 extend upwardly at the rear of the apparatus and may be secured to the members 2 at 18. In the form of theinvention shown, there are two of such uprights 16.

A member or members 88 fixed to the uprights carry pulleys 82. A transverse bar 84 has a plurality of clips or a single sheet engaging clip represented by 86. The bar 84 is supported by a cable or cables 88 passing over pulleys 82 and having a weight 90 at the end thereof.

Illuminating means 92 is provided which may take the form of a light which is safe for thematerial being handled.

In operation a sheet represented by 94 has its upper end engaged by the clip or clips of bar 84 so that it is suspended, the weight 98 being such as to normally overcome the weight of the sheet slightly.

If the innermost trough is for the developing liquid and the intermediate and outermost troughs for the stop-bath and fixer respectively, the lower edge of the sheet is grasped and passed beneath the guide member 30 for the innermost trough and the treadle is depressed to move the guide member downwardly into the liquid.

The sheet is then moved forwardly against the action of the weight and allowed to be moved rearwardly by the weight so as to traverse the liquid in the trough back and forth.

The sheet may, of course, be passed back and forth through the liquid as many times as desired and when the sheet is released it is moved upwardly by the weight so that the lower end thereof may be passed back and forththrough the liquid in one or both of the other troughs. The treadle may be released at any time to permits upward movement of the guides.

The novel construction makes it possible to readily and quickly process sheets of various sizes and shapes and to provide uniform action of the processing liquids, the apparatus occupying relatively small space is eicient in operation and makes low cost operation possible.

In some cases it may be desired to employ a single guide means for plural troughs and this may be accomplished as shown in Fig. 5.

In this form of the invention levers |80 fixed at opposite ends of a rock shaft lez have carriers |04 for a guide |05 slidable thereon that are urged upwardly by springs |06 so that the guide may be moved downwardly relative to troughs |88 in either of its positions.

Various means may be employed for moving the levers but as an illustration a rod IIB connected to one lever |08 is slidable in a guide H2 and has a manually engageable outer end I I4.

The carrier, in this form of the invention, may be operated by electrical or mechanical means or by mechanism similar to that already described.

The invention may be embodied in other specie forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for processing sensitized sheets comprising in combination, a, support, a troughlike receptacle for processing liquid, a sheet guide disposed longitudinally and horizontally relative to said receptacle mounted on said support for up and down movements between a lower guiding position in liquid in said receptacle and an upper non-guiding position above liquid in said receptacle, a movable member mounted for back and forth movements relative to said support, actuating means for moving said member in one direction and permitting movement thereof in an opposite direction, jaw means carried by said member for engaging one edge of a sheet facilitating the passage thereof beneath said guide so that its free opposite edge may be manually grasped for pulling said sheet and member in a direction against the action of the actuating means and released whereby said member and sheet will be pulled in an opposite direction, and

means for maintaining said guide in horizontal position and for moving the same between its upper and lower positions.

2. Apparatus for processing sensitized sheets comprising in combination, .a support, a plurality of separate trough-like receptacles for processing liquids, a guide for each of said receptacles disposed horizontally and longitudinally relative to its respective receptacles mounted on said support for up and down movements between lower guiding positions in liquid in said receptacle and upper non-guiding positions above liquid in said receptacle, a member mounted for back and forth movements relative to said support, actuating means for moving said member in one direction and permitting movement thereof in an opposite direction, jaw means carried by said member for engaging one edge of a sheet facilitating the passage thereof beneath any one of said guides so that its 'free opposite edge may be manually grasped for pulling said sheet and member in a direction against the action of the actuating means and released whereby said member and sheet will be pulled in an opposite direction by said actuating means, and means for maintaining said guides in horizontal position and for moving them between upper and lower positions.

3. Apparatus for processing sensitized sheets comprising in combination, a support, a troughlike receptacle for processing liquid, a sheet guide disposed longitudinally and horizontally relative to said receptacle mounted on said support for up and down movements between a lower guiding position in liquid in said receptacle and an upper non-guiding position above liquid in said receptacle, a movable member mounted for back and forth movements relative to said support, actuating means for moving said member in one direction and permitting movement thereof in an opposite direction, jaw means carried by said member for engaging one edge of a sheet facilitating the passage thereof beneath said guide so that its free opposite edge may be manually grasped for pulling said sheet and member in a direction against the action of the actuating means and released whereby said member and sheet will be pulled in an opposite direction, and means for maintaining said guide in horizontal position and for moving the same between its upper and lower positions, said movable member including a flexible element and said actuating means including a weight member.

RUSSELL B. HUSSEY. CECIL K. JONES. 

